Opinion Pieces

It’s been 10 years since the start of the Great Recession where so many Americans lost jobs, savings and even their homes. While Wall Street’s economy may have improved, when I talk to people, I ask them whether they feel “recovered.” Do you make enough money to cover your bills? Is there enough left over to put in savings? Are there other jobs out there offering you better pay? Usually, the answer is “not even close.”
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Steelhead, longtime residents in our rivers here in the Pacific Northwest, are now approaching extinction with alarming speed. This isn’t exaggeration; the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife found that one population of steelhead has an 89 percent chance of becoming extinct in the not too distant future.
The culprit for the fish’s demise? Sea lions.
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Those who have served our country deserve the best medical care, because that’s what they were promised and have earned. Yet I hear from veteran after veteran who has to wait too long to see a doctor or specialist.
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Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives delayed a vote on its plan to replace Obamacare. This was the right move. While Southwest Washington residents deserve better health care options at prices they can afford from doctors and providers they like, this particular replacement plan — the American Health Care Act — needed more work to achieve those goals.
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We all know it’s not acceptable. In some instances, it’s unimaginable. So how is it possible that in many parts of our state, the largest provider of mental-health services is the county jail?
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